Cost of living in Kenosha, WI
Kenosha, WI metro area · Data updated October 2026
Kenosha cost of living compared to the national average
What the numbers say
- Overall prices in Kenosha, WI are 1.1% above the national average, the 66th highest of 387 metro areas (BEA 2024).
- No single category stands out in Kenosha: housing is 4.2% below average, goods 6.2% above average and other services about average.
- Relative to the US, the price level in Kenosha has barely moved: 103.7 in 2008, 101.9 in 2019 and 101.1 in 2024.
- The metro areas with the most similar mix of costs are Spokane, WA, Kennewick, WA and Walla Walla, WA.
Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.
Compare Kenosha, WI with another city
Where the money goes
BEA splits prices into four parts. Housing covers rents for renters and the rental value of owned homes; goods include food, clothing, cars and fuel; other services include health care, eating out, transport and recreation.
In Kenosha, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 14.1% below
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kenosha, WI | |
|---|---|
| All items | 101.1 |
| Goods | 106.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 95.8 |
| Utilities | 85.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 |
How prices have changed since 2008
These are price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation. A line going up means Kenosha got more expensive compared with the rest of the US.
Kenosha has become less expensive relative to the US since 2008: 103.7 then, 101.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kenosha, WI | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.7 |
| 2009 | 102.9 |
| 2010 | 100.1 |
| 2011 | 103.1 |
| 2012 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 100.1 |
| 2014 | 101.3 |
| 2015 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 100.2 |
| 2017 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 101.9 |
| 2020 | 99.4 |
| 2021 | 101.5 |
| 2022 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 100.5 |
| 2024 | 101.1 |
Goods: 103.6 in 2008, 106.2 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kenosha, WI | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 105.1 |
| 2010 | 104.4 |
| 2011 | 104.9 |
| 2012 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 101.5 |
| 2015 | 99.4 |
| 2016 | 99.6 |
| 2017 | 102.6 |
| 2018 | 103.8 |
| 2019 | 104.7 |
| 2020 | 103.3 |
| 2021 | 105.6 |
| 2022 | 106.1 |
| 2023 | 103.7 |
| 2024 | 106.2 |
Housing (rents): 109.1 in 2008, 95.8 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kenosha, WI | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.1 |
| 2009 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 84.2 |
| 2011 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 80.6 |
| 2013 | 90.3 |
| 2014 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 101.5 |
| 2016 | 87.9 |
| 2017 | 94.3 |
| 2018 | 88.0 |
| 2019 | 103.5 |
| 2020 | 83.1 |
| 2021 | 86.8 |
| 2022 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 91.7 |
| 2024 | 95.8 |
Utilities: 102.6 in 2008, 85.9 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kenosha, WI | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.6 |
| 2009 | 102.6 |
| 2010 | 97.5 |
| 2011 | 100.2 |
| 2012 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 93.6 |
| 2014 | 100.8 |
| 2015 | 103.3 |
| 2016 | 102.1 |
| 2017 | 101.0 |
| 2018 | 98.8 |
| 2019 | 88.1 |
| 2020 | 90.7 |
| 2021 | 88.1 |
| 2022 | 85.4 |
| 2023 | 83.1 |
| 2024 | 85.9 |
Other services: 102.2 in 2008, 100.3 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kenosha, WI | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.2 |
| 2009 | 103.2 |
| 2010 | 102.8 |
| 2011 | 104.5 |
| 2012 | 104.4 |
| 2013 | 103.4 |
| 2014 | 101.3 |
| 2015 | 101.8 |
| 2016 | 104.4 |
| 2017 | 105.2 |
| 2018 | 103.6 |
| 2019 | 100.4 |
| 2020 | 103.7 |
| 2021 | 104.5 |
| 2022 | 104.3 |
| 2023 | 102.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 |
Rent and home prices
Rent and home-value trends are not available for Kenosha, WI. Kenosha was split from the Chicago metro in the 2023 delineation. Zillow has no separate Kenosha area. BEA's housing index above still covers rents here.
Gas prices
Regular gasoline averaged $4.14 a gallon in the Midwest region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.14 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Kenosha, WI, so this is the regional average. official
Work out your commute's gas cost
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.
Childcare
Not included yet. The free official source (the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices) is published by county, with its latest year 2022 and gaps in some states. We will add it once we can show it per metro without guessing.
Where Kenosha ranks
Among 387 metro areas, 2024. 1st is the most expensive.
| Category | Index (US = 100) | Rank | Cheaper than |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.1 | 66th of 387 | 17% of metros |
| Goods | 106.2 | 11th of 387 | 3% of metros |
| Housing (rents) | 95.8 | 113th of 387 | 29% of metros |
| Utilities | 85.9 | 266th of 387 | 69% of metros |
| Other services | 100.3 | 38th of 387 | 10% of metros |
Metro areas with a similar cost mix
Closest in all four categories at once, not just in the overall number.
| Metro area | Overall | Housing | Typical rent | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI (this page) | 101.1 | 95.8 | n/a | |
| Spokane, WA | 100.3 | 97.1 | $1,512 | Compare |
| Kennewick, WA | 100.1 | 94.8 | $1,695 | Compare |
| Walla Walla, WA | 98.5 | 86.6 | $1,474 | Compare |
| Chicago, IL | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,163 | Compare |
| Medford, OR | 101.4 | 97.7 | $1,848 | Compare |
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | 98.4 | $1,771 | Compare |
Other metro areas in Wisconsin
- Minneapolis, MN 104.8
- Madison, WI 97.3
- Milwaukee, WI 96.9
- Racine, WI 96.0
- Sheboygan, WI 94.0
- Janesville, WI 93.7
- Green Bay, WI 93.1
- Oshkosh, WI 92.9
- Eau Claire, WI 92.8
- Wausau, WI 92.7
- Appleton, WI 92.4
- La Crosse, WI 91.8
- Fond du Lac, WI 91.6
- Duluth, MN 88.8
Sources and limits
- Price levels: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
- These are averages for the whole metro area and an average household's spending. Your costs depend on neighborhood, household size and habits. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.